BRILLIANT PLAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1939, Page 7

BRILLIANT PLAY

CARRIES EDWARDS TO VICTORY. IN N.Z. TENNIS SINGLES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 8. . Almost flawless baseline play and most deadly smashing and volleying carried N. V. Edwards, Wellington, to a well-merited victory in the final of the men's singles lawn tennis championship of New Zealand on Saturday. Before a record crowd of more than 2000 at Wilding Park he beat H. A. Barnett, Canterbury, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1, a score which fails entirely to reflect the determined fight of the Canterbury man, who filled the position of runnerup for the third time. The all-Australian women’s singles final, also a much better game than the score of 6-2, 6-2 suggests, resulted in the expected victory of Miss M. Hardcastle, Queensland, over Miss T. Rice, New South Wales.

N. F. N. Bedford and J. W. Gunn, Auckland, played an inspired game to deprive A. McL. Ferkins and E. A. Roussell, Wellington, of the men's doubles title which they had held for two years. In the mixed doubles final N. G. Sturt, Auckland, and Miss Hardcastle beat C. Angas and Miss I. Poole, Canterbury.

The winner of the Wilding Memorial Cup, which goes to the province securing the most points for the championships, will not be known till after the New Zealand junior tournament to be held in Wanganui this month, as one point is awarded for each of the junior titles. In the senior championships three points are allotted for each of the singles events and two for each of the doubles, Wellington thus ties with Auckland with three points each, Canterbury having two. The results of the final rounds played on Saturday are: — MEN’S SINGLES. N. V. Edwards (Wellington) beat H. A. Barnett (Canterbury). 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. WOMEN’S SINGLES. Miss M. Hardcastle (Queensland) beat Miss T. Rice (New South Wales), 6-2, 6-2. MEN'S DOUBLES. J. W. Gunn and N. F. N. Bedford (Auckland) beat E. A. Roussell and R. McL. Ferkins (Wellington). 7-5, 6-1, 2-6. 6-4. MIXED DOUBLES. N. G. Sturt (Auckland) and Miss IVL Hardcastle (Queensland) beat C. Angas and Miss I. Poole (Canterbury), 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. MEN’S PLATE. E. A. Roussell (Wellington) beat R. McL. Ferkins (Wellington). 6-3. 6-0.